Acetylene-gas generator.



S. A. WHITSETT.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2.1915.

1,201,409. Patented 00t.17,1916.

Witnesss @NTTED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

SAMUEL A. WHITSETT, OF BELFAST, TENIQ'ESSFFE.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL A. WHITSETT, acitizen of the United States, residing at Belfast, in the county ofMarshall and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and usefulAcetylene-Gas Generator, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to acetylene gas generators, and aimsto provide a novel and improved apparatus of that character.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an acetylene gasgenerator provided with unique means for releasing a small quantity ofcarbid when the bell approaches its lowermost position, so that thecarbid will drop into the water when the bell lowers a predeterminedamount, until the bell rises due to the formation of the gas.

Another object of the invention is the pro I vision in an acetylene gasgenerator, of

novel means for discharging the carbid, so that the gas will be quicklyand effectively generated, whereby the carbid will be properly consumedwithout waste.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide an acetylene gasgenerator which is improved generally in its construction and details,to enhance the utility thereof, the structure being comparatively simpleand inexpensive in construction, as well as being serviceable,convenient, practical and efiicient in use.

1V ith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure1 is a vertical section of the gen erator. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a water tank l'havingan upstanding sleeve 2 therein, and providing an annular trough 3between the sleeve 2 and walls of the tank 1 for holding the water. Theupper end of the tank 1 is flared or enlarged, as at 1, whereby when thewater level is Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. June 2, 1915.

Patented Oct. 17, 1-916.

Serial No. 31,708.

raised due to the lowering of the bell 5, the flared or enlarged portion4: will properly receive the water, without danger of the wateroverflowing. The bell 5 has its rim received by the trough 3, wherebythe water forms a seal for the bell, and allows the bell to movevertically when being filled and emptied.

The gas discharge pipe 6 extends along one side of the sleeve 2 fromwithin the bell 5, and projects out through the tank 1 for conductingthe gas from the hell 5 to the point of discharge or consumption.

A vertical escape pipe 7 is secured to one wall of the hell 5, withinthe bell, and projects upwardly through the top of the bell, the lowerend of the pipe 7 terminating slightly above the lower end of the bell,whereby when the water level within the bell reaches the lower end ofthe bell, due to the raising of the bell and the lowering of the waterlevel, the gas will escape through the pipe 7 instead of escaping aroundthe lower end of the bell which would be objectionable. An upstandingpipe 8 is connected to the top of the hell 5 and is provided with acontrolling valve 9, whereby when the valve 9 is opened, the air isallowed to escape from the bell, when the generator is started.

Seated within the sleeve 2, is a sludge can or receptacle 17 and spider18 is seated upon the upper end of the can 17 and carries a dependingcarbid holder or receptacle 19 of rectangular or square cross section.The carbid holder 19 is suspended within the can 17 and is spaced abovethe bottom of the said can, and opposite walls of the holder 19 havetheir lower ends bent inwardly, as at 20, between the other oppositesides of the holder 19. There is an opening between the inturned ends 20communicating with the space'or chamber within the can 17.

A vertical pipe 21 is engaged through the center'of the spider 18 anddepends within the carbid holder 19, and a rod 22 is slidable throughthe pipe 21. A nut 23 is threaded upon the pipe 21 and seats upon thespider 18 for adjustably supporting the pipe 21. v

A pair of inclined plates or chutes 24 are secured to the pipe 21adjacent its lower end,

and form a gable whose edges overhang the inturned portions 20. A coiledwire spring 25 surrounds the upper protruding terminal of the rod 22 andseats against the upper end of the pipe 21 and a head 26 secured to theupper end of the rod 22. The ends of the plates or chutes 24 are securedto opposite side plates 27 which rest slidably against opposite walls ofthe carbid holder 19.

Wings 28 are hinged to the inturned portions 20 and project toward oneanother, so that the free ends of the said wings may be swung upwardlyand downwardly, and links 29 connect the free ends of the wings 28 andthe lower end of the rod 22, whereby when said rod is raised andlowered, the wings will be raised and lowered correspondingly. The upperend of the rod 22 projects upwardly sufliciently in order that the rod.22 will be depressed when the bell 5 lowers a predetermined amount. Thewings 28 normally project angularly upward toward one another, so thatthe carbid will be effectively held back thereby, and the free edges ofthe wings are spaced apart.

In operation, presupposing that the bell 5 is raised, as seen in Fig. 1,when the gas is withdrawn from the bell 5 through the pipe 6, so thatthe bell lowers a predeter mined amount, the top of the bell will strikethe upper end or head 26 of the rod 22. Then when the bell lowers stillfurther, the rod 22 will be moved downwardly, against the tension of thespring 25, which normally lifts the said rod, and the wings 28 will beswung downwardly, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Normally, the wings28 are swung upwardly, as seen in full lines in Fig. 1, whereby theysupport the carbid thereon and prevent the carbid from dropping into thewater in the lower portion of the sludge can 17. Now, when the wings 28are swung downwardly, they permit the carbid to slide or gravitatedownwardly into the water, and this will start the generation of theacetylene gas, causing the bell 5 to rise. lVhen the bell is raised, therod 22 is released, and will be moved upwardly by its spring 25, toagain swing the wings 28 upwardly for arresting the discharge of carbid.The carbid within the holder 19 gravitates over the lower edges of theinclined plates or chutes 24 and is directed'onto the wings 28 by theinturned portions 20 of the respective side walls of the carbid holder,whereby when the wings '28 are swung downwardly, the carbid will begradually discharged into the water. The carbid being dropped into thewater will form the gas quickly and effectively, and without waste ofcarbid.

noted that when the plates 24 are adjusted I vertically, their loweredges are moved away from or toward the inturned portions 20 to increaseor decrease the delivery openings or spaces between the plates 24 andinturned deflecting portions 20.

Should the bell 5 be filled with an eXces sive quantity of acetylenegas, so that the gas would be liable to escape under the lower end ofthe hell 5, the gas would first escape out through the pipe 7, toprevent the upsetting of the bell and other mishaps. If desired, a hoseor other connection may be attached to the outer end of the pipe 7 forcatching the acetylene gas which escapes through the said pipe.

When it is desired to clean and refill the apparatus, the bell 5 isremoved, and the sludge can 17 may then be removed. The carbid holder.19 may be lifted out of the can 17 whereby the sludge may be dumped,and the holder 19 may then be filled with carbid. The parts are thenagain assembled.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A holder,the opposite side walls of which have inturned portions at their lowerends, wings hinged to said portions and projecting toward one another,the free edges of said wings being spaced apart at all positionsthereof, a vertically adjustable pipe carried by the holder anddepending thereinto, a pair of inclined chutes within the holderattached to the lower end of said pipe and having their lower edgesoverhanging said inturned portions, slidable plates resting against theother sides of the holder and attached to the ends of the chutes, aspring raised rod slidable through said pipe, and links connecting thelower end of said rod and free edges of said wings, said rod when raisedraising the free edges of the wings above the plane of the hinged edgesthereof, and said rod when depressed moving the free edges of said wingsbelow said plane.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiiXedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL A. WHITSETT. Witnesses GEO. MOADAMS, J osrn PETTY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.-

